Slender (2012)
It’s easy to forget now, after years of knock-offs, imposters, jokes, and parodies, that the original Slender: The Eight Pages was a really scary game. Released in 2012 and developed by one guy, this free horror game asked players to simply explore a dark forest and collect eight pages. The problem? Slenderman, a creepy thin monster created by the internet, is hunting you at all times, and if you look at him too long, you die.
While it’s a crude and wonky game made in Unity by one guy, Slender is still a very scary experience. In fact, the crude quality and rough feel only make it even scarier. It truly feels like some organic thing that just showed up one day out of the void, partially finished and waiting to make you scream. Even though the game got a bigger sequel and fan-developed spin-offs, the original is still the best one to load up on a chilly October night if you want some genuine scares. — ZZ
